Etihad Aviation Group engages youth across the UAE in science and technology at Think Science Fair 2018

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Aviation Group is taking part in the 2018 Think Science Fair, held this week in Dubai, as part of its commitment to encourage the youth across the UAE to engage with science and technology and pursue a career in the world of aviation and aircraft engineering.

The event, which runs from 16 to 18 April at Dubai World Trade
Centre, is organised by the Emirates Foundation under the patronage of H.H.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation and Chairman of the Emirates Foundation.

Emirati pilots, cadets and engineers from Etihad Aviation Group
will be present at the event to promote the aviation industry and its various
career opportunities.

Ibrahim Nassir, Senior Vice President Human Resources Etihad
Airways and Deputy Group Chief People and Performance Officer at Etihad
Aviation Group, said: “Developing the youth and engaging with them lies at the
heart of our goal to attract UAE talents to work in aviation and drive
innovation in science and technology.”

“By showcasing a number of future technologies and innovations at
this year’s Think Science Fair, we hope this will inspire the youth attending
the event to follow their dreams and join the ranks of the Emirati success
stories at Etihad Aviation Group.”

Amani Al Hashmi, Head of UAE National Development at Etihad
Aviation Group, said: “As we celebrate science and
technology, we also honour the legacy of the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who believed that ‘education of our people is a
great wealth. We are proud of our educated nation because through knowledge and
science we will open the horizons of a glorious future.' This is something we
are trying to achieve at Etihad.”

Visitors to Etihad Aviation Group’s stand will be able
to experience first-hand some of the experimental technologies in aviation,
which include bag measurement and cargo container loading using augmented
reality, line maintenance planning and task assignment using a smart device and
crew collaboration and communications through smart watches.

The stand also offers visiting
students the chance to experience what it is like to pilot an aircraft on a
flight simulator, and test the students’ flying ability. Etihad engineers will
be on hand to show visitors what could be the future tools for inspection of
aircraft engine and spare parts using a smart phone.

A mock-up of a fuel draining system invented by Etihad
Airways Engineering, which removes water condensate and residual fuel from
aircraft fuel tanks in a short time, and 3D-printed cabin plastic parts are
also on display at the stand.

Visitors
will have the chance to try virtual reality entertainment technology, which
Etihad Airways is currently trialling for a month at its flagship First Class Lounge
and Spa and Business Class Premium Lounge at Abu Dhabi International Airport,
to gather customer feedback to determine the airline’s future lounge
entertainment offering at the upcoming Abu Dhabi’s state-of-the-art Midfield
Terminal.

Sara
Mohamed Al Naqbi, First Officer at Etihad Airways, said: "With events like
Think Science, the UAE is actively paving the way for the youth to become the
future leaders in science and technology. The aviation industry is heavily
based on technological advancement and innovation, and we are confident many of
the brilliant minds we meet today will contribute to this vital industry in the
very near future."

The Think Science Fair is one of the biggest events of its kind in
the region that attracts thousands of visitors every year, and encourages
cooperation and interaction between young scientists and science and technology
business sector. The event welcomed 52,000 young visitors over the past 5
years.

The 6th annual Think Science Fair is set to be the biggest yet, with
3 days of action packed activities that bring together thousands of youth from
across the UAE to promote science, technology and innovation through
interactive hands-on experiments, educational workshops and stage shows.